Grapple quick connect problem

[RWTschoeke]

I just purchased the 48" WildKat grapple and picked up the appropriate 1/2" Pioneer couplers (male tip) from the NH dealer that added the rear remotes and ran a line from there to the loader arm, where they mounted the Pioneer female end on a bracket attached to the center loader support. Male tips threaded onto the grapple hoses easily with plumbers tape, tightened and hooked up to the female ends on the loader. No problem with the connection initially and the grapple worked beautifully as I played around lifting logs and clearing some brush for a few minutes. At one point however, with the grapple fully open and the loader pointing down, I exhausted the slack in the grapple hoses and one of the lines disengaged from the quick connect; male and female separated. What I thought would be any easy reconnect is not happening. I disconnected the other quick connect to add slack to the hoses that I thought I had enough of, but now neither of the quick connects reattaches. Of note is that the grapple is fully open (single cylinder) and the rest of the hydraulics (loader, rear mower) work fine. I presume this is all part of the educational experience of tractor ownership for me and it likely has something to do with relieving the pressure buildup, but I thought I would try you guys first with all your knowledge and good advice that I have found here, prior to calling the dealer tomorrow. One other thing, does it matter which of the two grapple hoses attaches to the female couplers and is it thus important to label them. Thanks

 

[CJONE]

I just purchased the 48" WildKat grapple and picked up the appropriate 1/2" Pioneer couplers (male tip) from the NH dealer that added the rear remotes and ran a line from there to the loader arm, where they mounted the Pioneer female end on a bracket attached to the center loader support. Male tips threaded onto the grapple hoses easily with plumbers tape, tightened and hooked up to the female ends on the loader. No problem with the connection initially and the grapple worked beautifully as I played around lifting logs and clearing some brush for a few minutes. At one point however, with the grapple fully open and the loader pointing down, I exhausted the slack in the grapple hoses and one of the lines disengaged from the quick connect; male and female separated. What I thought would be any easy reconnect is not happening. I disconnected the other quick connect to add slack to the hoses that I thought I had enough of, but now neither of the quick connects reattaches. Of note is that the grapple is fully open (single cylinder) and the rest of the hydraulics (loader, rear mower) work fine. I presume this is all part of the educational experience of tractor ownership for me and it likely has something to do with relieving the pressure buildup, but I thought I would try you guys first with all your knowledge and good advice that I have found here, prior to calling the dealer tomorrow. One other thing, does it matter which of the two grapple hoses attaches to the female couplers and is it thus important to label them. Thanks

Sounds like 1 of the hoses still has pressure in it. Loosen the coupler until it just starts leaking then the pressure will bleed off, do not take it off if it has air trapped in the hose you will get a face full of fluid. You can sometimes push in the poppet with a punch but it is not very safe. If the coupler is damaged obviously replace it. As far as which coupler to connect, just put 1 male and 1 female on the tractor and the same on the grapple and you cannot get it backwards and you can also hook them together when the grapple is not on the tractor to keep them clean. If the function is backwards with your grapple control just switch the lines with the quick couplers at the back of the tractor. CJ

 

[allenr]

Sounds like 1 of the hoses still has pressure in it. Loosen the coupler until it just starts leaking then the pressure will bleed off, do not take it off if it has air trapped in the hose you will get a face full of fluid. You can sometimes push in the poppet with a punch but it is not very safe. If the coupler is damaged obviously replace it. As far as which coupler to connect, just put 1 male and 1 female on the tractor and the same on the grapple and you cannot get it backwards and you can also hook them together when the grapple is not on the tractor to keep them clean. If the function is backwards with your grapple control just switch the lines with the quick couplers at the back of the tractor. CJ

I'm not sure if the above post makes it clear to check for pressure both sides of the coupling.

Not only the tractor side but the grapple side also.

 

[CJONE]

I'm not sure if the above post makes it clear to check for pressure both sides of the coupling.

Not only the tractor side but the grapple side also.

OOOPS your right! Best thing to do with the tractor is to shut it off then actuate the control valve in both directions a few time to bleed off any pressure if your not sure. CJ

 

[Zebrafive]

It seems to be the standard for tractor third function lines to have female couplers and implements to have male tips. I use colored wire tie wraps to mark my lines and hoses. I use grean and orange only because that's what the factory uses to mark third function lines. Green for the cylinder rod end and Orange for the head or piston end of the cylinder.

 

[RWTschoeke]

Searched this site some more after the initial post and found others in similar predicament. Many opinions but consensus was to bleed pressure from lines. Since grapple was wide open, placed the upper arm against tree/logs to relieve pressure on the cylinder. Amazingly, this allowed me to connect one of the couplers and in so doing was able to close the grapple arms. The second line was a little more challenging but wrapped towel around male connector and pushed down on nipple to relieve grapple pressure. For the female connector on tractor, towel wrapped screwdriver pressed gently on its nipple did the same. Thereafter, was able to connect the lines and everything worked as well as expected. Also checked hydraulic fluid which was down a little, but still adequate. Finally, made sure grapple lines had enough slack to go through complete range of motion for grapple/loader. One last question, since the grapple lines have male connectors and the tractor quick connects are female, I cannot connect them together when separated as CJONE suggested. What is the best way to keep the couplers protected and clean?

 

[Dadof3]

Go to TSC and get some rubber caps. They're only a couple of bucks and you get your choice of colors.

 

[CJONE]

Yep caps and plugs, OR switch your connectors so you have a male and female like I did. CJ

 

[Zebrafive]

I took an old 5 gallon pail with a lid and mounted some old leaky female quick couplers on the lid. When I disconnect my grapple I connect both male ends to the quick couplers on the 5 gallon pail. Keeps the tips clean and I no longer have to struggle when I reconnect.